Chevrolet Suburban

Hauling people and their wares for more than 75 years

Buyer's Guide from Hemmings Motor News

It's hard to argue with the success of Chevrolet's workaday Suburban. As the nameplate rolls off its 76th year of production, it has quietly achieved brand recognition on par with storied American models like Mustang, Corvette, F-series and Ram.

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GM didn't trademark the Suburban name until the 1980s and, prior to that, Suburban was a sort of a generic handle applied to station wagons. The earliest GM Suburbans were called Carryall Suburbans--the name "carryall," too, has been used as a sort of generic term for a carriage or people-mover dating back to horse-and-buggy days.
There have been worthy contenders for the full-size-truck-based carryall title over the years. For instance, Jeep's Wagoneer still has a huge cult following. International's Travelall was probably the closest match-up for the Suburban and was offered with four doors beginning in 1961. The 'Burb wouldn't get a fourth door until the redesigned 1973 GM trucks debuted.
Over the years and into today, Suburbans have served as family cars, police patrol vehicles, limousines, emergency response vehicles, school buses and more. Blessed with full-size, light-truck hauling and towing capability, they have always had an edge over car-based station wagons in the eyes of people with serious work to do. And, of course, eight or nine people can ride in a Suburban in relative comfort.
As collectibles, Chevrolet Suburbans are valued more or less on par with their pickup truck equivalents. The easiest to find and restore? That honor would have to go to the 1973-1991 trucks, with their vast production numbers. This same basic body style was built for almost two decades, becoming the longest running of any Chevrolet Suburban series. The hottest Suburbans to collect? We'd wager on trucks with NAPCO Powr-Pak 4x4 conversions, 1959 and earlier. They're relatively rare, and their high-riding stance gives them an almost toy-like look. Which model Suburban has the greatest curb appeal? That's a matter of personal preference. Chevrolet 1947-'55 Advance Design trucks are a perennial favorite, but then, so are the earlier 1941-1946 Art Deco trucks and 1955-1959 Task Force models. The best Suburban to own and restore is the truck you prefer. Here is an encapsulated breakdown of the different Suburban eras beginning in 1935 and ending in 1991.
1935-1940
1936 Suburban base MSRP: $685
MSRP adjusted for inflation: $10,743
Average price today: $10,500
Introduced in 1935, the Suburban Carryall's all-metal body rode on a 112-inch wheelbase and was powered by Chevrolet's 207-cu.in. Stovebolt inline-six. Initially, the truck used a 60hp engine with 5.45:1 compression, but that was later upped to 79hp. Upgrades to the 1936 truck included the addition of hydraulic brakes. As the Suburban was still a commercial vehicle, items like a radio, clock, heater and dual windshield wipers were available only as options. Chevrolet truck sales saw a 21 percent increase from model year 1935 to 1936, as the U.S. began to shake off the effects of the Great Depression. The Suburban accounted for a significant portion of those sales, as customers found its eight-passenger, wagon-style configuration ideal for ferrying passengers and work crews. The Suburban was a commercially oriented vehicle and wasn't marketed to families. Today, they can be a challenge to find and restore.
1941-1947
1946
Suburban base MSRP: $1,283
MSRP adjusted for inflation: $14,344
Average price today: $13,500
Civilian automobile production halted in order to manufacture war materiel throughout World War II, so U.S. service men and women returned home to dealer showrooms that had seen little or no traffic since 1942. Virtually no cars or light-duty trucks were produced for civilian use between early 1942 and late 1945. When the factories switched back from building tanks, guns and bombers to building passenger vehicles, all the major automakers basically picked up in 1946 where they left off before the war.
The exterior styling of the '46 Suburban was unchanged from the brief 1942 model run, and it rode on the same 115-inch wheelbase. Early 1946 models were virtually identical to the '42 trucks, including a lack of chrome trim. Later in 1946, bright trim reappeared and other refinements were added to the Suburban.
The 90hp 216-cu.in. Stovebolt in-line-six engine powered the '46 Chevrolet Suburban, and the engine was backed by a three-speed manual transmission. Hydraulic brakes were standard.
To satisfy pent-up demand for new vehicles, production of the 1946 Suburban (and all other Chevrolet trucks) lasted through May 1947. Options included: two-tone paint, chrome wheel trim rings, whitewall tires, dual taillamps, a radio, heater, clock, cigar lighter, windshield sun shade, and a rear tailgate in place of standard barn doors.
1947-1955
1951
Suburban base MSRP: $1,818
MSRP adjusted for inflation: $15,700
Average price today: $13,000
The Suburban shared the "Advance Design" styling introduced on the Chevy truck line in late 1947 for the 1948 model year. It was a modern look, with a sloping, fixed windshield, cowl-mounted windshield wipers, a cab-operated cowl vent and headlamps mounted in the fenders. While the outside was all new and the living quarters larger, the underpinnings of the Advance Design trucks were still largely the stuff of pre-war GM trucks. Material shortages during the Korean War meant many 1950-'53 Suburbans left the factory with painted trim. The Advance Design Suburban offered seating for up to eight in a two-door body style. The rear cargo area was accessible by either a tailgate or a pair of "barn" doors. The second- and third-row seats were removable and they were mounted on a linoleum-covered floor. Double-acting shock absorbers improved the truck's ride and under the hood rumbled the 216.5-inch "Thriftmaster" inline six-cylinder engine. It produced 92hp and 176-lbs.ft. of torque between 1,000 and 2,000 RPM. All of the Advance Design trucks had torque-tube type driveshafts except 1955 "first series" trucks, which used an open driveshaft. This was done in preparation for the redesigned 1955 second series or "Task Force" trucks. Also of note: GM's Hydra-Matic automatic transmission was first available in Chevrolet Suburbans in 1954.
1955-1959
1956 Suburban base MSRP: $2,300
MSRP adjusted for inflation: $18,501
Average price today: $15,000
Chevrolet's "Task Force" trucks hit showrooms in March of 1955, hauling in with them the start of a new era in light haulers. Available under their broad hoods was Chevrolet's optional new small-block V-8, which would see duty in Suburbans until 1999. The six-cylinder now displaced 235-cu.in., and with 7.5:1 compression, pumped out 123hp. Four-wheel drive became a possibility with the arrival of open (non-torque tube) driveshafts and, until GM began offering factory 4x4s, Task Force-era trucks used Northwest Auto Parts Co. four-wheel-drive conversions. Initially, the conversions were all performed by NAPCO franchises around the country, but in 1957, GM made NAPCO conversions available from the factory. This arrangement between GM and NAPCO lasted through 1959. On GM factory-built NAPCO 4x4s, you won't find any NAPCO badges on the exterior. However, you should find NAPCO cast into the front axle.
1960-1966
1966
Suburban base MSRP: $2,598
MSRP adjusted for inflation: $17,642
Average price today: $12,000
The Suburban, already in production for 25 years when the new series bowed in 1960, featured greater passenger amenities and safety features--although a deluxe heater was still a $53 option. The Suburban was offered in a ½-ton chassis, with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, but fewer than 1,000 of the approximately 13,000 examples sold in 1966--the final year for this body style--were ordered with four-wheel drive.
The 230-cubic-inch six-cylinder was standard, but also available were two versions of the classic small-block V-8: a 283 rated at 175hp and, later, a 327 rated at 220hp.
A call for increased safety in passenger vehicles brought about features such as safety belts, back-up lamps and dual-speed windshield wipers as standard equipment in the Suburban for the first time during this generation.
1967-1972
1972
Suburban base MSRP: $3,495
MSRP adjusted for inflation: $18,363
Average price today: $8,500
The '72 Suburban was the final model of a unique three-door design that was introduced in 1967. It featured a single door on the driver's side and a pair of doors on the passenger side. This generation Suburban introduced a longer, 127-inch wheelbase, which significantly increased its cargo-hauling capability and enhanced its towing capacity. It was also the generation that launched the ¾-ton chassis beneath the 'Burb. Suburban sales grew dramatically during the 1967-'72 era, from about 6,200 in 1967 to more than 27,000 in 1972. The number of Suburbans ordered with four-wheel drive increased significantly during those years, too. Only 166 ½-ton models and 120 ¾-ton models were built with four-wheel drive in 1967, but those numbers grew to more than 3,000 half-tons and nearly 1,400 ¾-ton models in 1972. The 1972 model was the last to roll out with coil-spring rear suspension on two-wheel-drive trucks.
Standard equipment included standard front disc brakes (introduced in 1971), while power steering and power interior accessories were optional. An inline-six remained the standard engine, while several small-block V-8s and a 402-cu.in. big-block engine were available.
1973-1991
1976
Suburban base MSRP: $5,087
MSRP adjusted for inflation: $19,500
Average price today: $10,000
Big changes came with Chevrolet's 1973 light-truck overhaul, which is a good thing, considering how long this same basic truck would soldier on: through most of the 1970s, all of the '80s and the early days of the '90s. The Suburban now had four doors and rode on a 129.5-inch wheelbase. By 1980 the 250-cu.in. inline was gone and the 350 was the standard engine. The 454 became the standard optional big-block in 1973 and lasted as an option for years, though, in 1981, it was available only on ¾-ton two-wheel-drive trucks. That year, the 305 was the standard V-8 on ½-ton two-wheel drives, while the 350 was optional. The front end sheetmetal was also redesigned in 1981 and quad headlamps became available. The 6.2-liter diesel was first installed in 1982 and fuel injection debuted on gasoline engines in 1987. The Suburban's clientele now included more than utility companies, municipalities and industry, so the option list grew more and more car-like every year. The most prolifically produced Suburban to date; parts for these trucks are widely available, though in the Northeast, the 1973-1980 trucks are becoming increasingly scarce.
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN TIMELINE

1935: Suburban Carryall introduced with a signature two-door body style that would last through 1967. Power came from Chevrolet's Stovebolt inline-six that produced 60 horsepower for the half-ton chassis.
1936: Hydraulic brakes introduced.
1937: New, streamlined exterior styling carried Art Deco cues, and horsepower from the Stovebolt six increased to 79hp. Safety glass is introduced.
1940: Sealed-beam headlamps debut.
1947: The first significant redesign of the Chevrolet's truck line--including Suburban--since before the war. Torque from the inline-six engine was 174-lbs.ft. at 1,200 RPM. Flow-through ventilation improves driving comfort.
1953: Tinted glass is offered for the first time.
1955: Revolutionary new styling is introduced midway through the model year. Known as the "second series" design, it features a wraparound windshield and the elimination of running boards--the body is flush with the fenders for the first time. The second series model also introduces the now-ubiquitous small-block V-8.
Other advancements included: Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, 12-volt electrical system and tubeless tires.
1957: Factory-installed four-wheel drive is offered for the first time, with the famous NAPCO-supplied "Powr-Pak" system.
1959: Positraction rear axle introduced.
1960: Chevrolet institutes the C/K designations to denote models with 2WD (C) and 4WD (K). Front-end styling is also new. Independent front suspension (torsion bars) is introduced.
1963: Stronger, ladder-type frame design debuts.
1965: Factory-installed air conditioning and rear-area heater offered for the first time.
1967: All-new styling of Chevy's half-ton trucks is introduced, including Suburban. It carries a unique three-door arrangement with a single door on the driver's side and front and rear doors on the passenger side. This configuration makes the Suburban popular with ambulance companies. A host of new safety features becomes standard, including:

Dual-cylinder brake system

Energy-absorbing steering column

Padded instrument panel

Thicker laminated safety glass windshield

1971: Standard front disc brakes and engines tuned to run on unleaded gas.
1973: A new generation of Chevy trucks is launched, with Suburban offered in a conventional four-door body style introduced for the first time. Its 129.5-inch wheelbase was only half an inch shorter than current models. Also debuting in trucks is the 454-cu.in. big-block engine that delivered 335-lbs.ft. of torque.
1975: Increased focus on interior comfort and amenities in the 1973 models brings more customers to Suburban for use as a personal vehicle. Chevrolet responds with more comfortable seats and greater amenities, including simulated buffalo hide vinyl upholstery, woodgrain dash inserts, fully trimmed door panels and more. Rubber front control arm bushings and new rear leaf springs greatly improve ride quality.
1981: Updated styling brings stacked rectangular headlamps for the 1980s. The 4WD system adds automatic locking hubs and the 454 big-block is still offered in ¾-ton, giving customers great towing capability. New low-drag disc brakes enhance fuel economy.
1987: Electronically controlled fuel injection and a four-speed overdrive transmission bring greater efficiency.
1988: Anti-lock brakes are offered for the first time.
1992: An all-new Suburban, following the redesign of light pickups in 1988, features sleek styling with flush glass and composite headlamps. The 5.7L small-block V-8 powers 1500 models, while the 454 engine is still available in the 2500 series. Other updates include four-wheel anti-lock brakes for both 2WD and 4WD models, Insta-Trac on four-wheel-drive models and a new independent front suspension system designed to provide a more carlike ride.
2000: Launched in 1999 as a 2000 model, the next-generation Suburban brings new styling, new interiors and new powertrains. The engines include the Vortec 5.3-liter and 6.0-liter V-8s that were from the same Gen III V-8 "LS" family that debuted a couple of years earlier as the LS1 in the Corvette. Four-wheel disc brakes and a load-leveling suspension system are also on tap.
2007: The latest generation of the Suburban is introduced, featuring a wind tunnel-shaped exterior and the elimination of traditional chrome front and rear bumpers. More efficient, comfortable and capable than ever, the Suburban continues to offer customers of all walks of life uncompromising capability and versatility.
- Information provided by GM

This article originally appeared in the March, 2011 issue of Hemmings Motor News.